Craft Breweries & Cideries in Niagara-On-The-Lake

Beer lovers should make their way to the region of Niagara and discover the many breweries and cideries in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake. While Niagara is celebrated as Ontario’s wine region, the sipping and savouring does not stop there. The Green Belt boasts a rich landscape full of the ingredients needed to craft extraordinary beers and ciders. Discover where to go to get libations of all sorts while also learning about the region’s agriculture, history, brew scene and more on any one of these great tours.

Craft Breweries in Niagara-on-the-Lake 

Thanks to Niagara’s rich agricultural surroundings, Ontario’s wine country has become a mecca for outstanding locally made craft beer. Brew makers and beer aficionados alike have been flocking to Niagara, making it a must-see Ontario brewery town. From modern, rustic and even a little high-end, Niagara-on-the-Lake offers an assortment of must-try breweries brewing up unique beers that truly reflect the region of Niagara.

Niagara College Teaching Brewery

This Niagara micro-brewery combines great beer with a superior education. The Niagara College Teaching Brewery is a 1,500 sq. ft. learning environment where students create experimental brews that can be purchased onsite. This brewery hosts a wide variety of community events that guests are welcome to attend where they can learn about beer and the brewing process, as well as taste the wide variety of unique beers brewed by eager students. 

Find out more about the Niagara College Teaching Brewery

Silversmith Brewing Company

See how a 19th-century church has been transformed into a charming Niagara-on-the-Lake brewery and Beer Hall where Silversmith Brewing now creates its celebrated beers and ales. The Silversmith team welcomes visitors because, like you, they are really passionate about their craft and they look forward to guiding you through an unparalleled beer experience. Join fellow beer connoisseurs in the beer hall to taste delicious hand-crafted drinks, enjoy live music and sample some great food. 

Find out more about the Silversmith Brewing Company

The Exchange Brewery

What’s in a name? At the Exchange Brewery, not a whole lot because, at this great local Niagara-on-the-Lake brewery, it’s the numbers that matter. In honour of the brewery building’s roots as Niagara’s first Telephone Exchange, the ales at this location are identified using numbers only. But, this simple system certainly doesn’t affect the quality of the beer. Try amber ales, porters, different IPAs and internationally-inspired brews at this premium brewery and tasting room in Niagara’s Old Town heritage district

Find out more about The Exchange Brewery

Oast House Brewers

Do you feel like being a party animal for the evening? Then, visit Oast House Brewers where the brewery and tasting room are housed in a barn! In the affectionately known “Beer Shed,” you can taste a flight of the brewery’s standard and seasonal beers and then decide which types you’d like to purchase and take home for later.

If you’re looking for a great view of Niagara’s local agriculture, clamber up to The Hayloft where you can take a tour of this unique venue and then get back to the main event – trying all of the team’s perfectly-flavoured ales.

Find out more about Oast House Brewers

The Grist Craft Kitchen & Brewery 

Welcome to one of the area’s coolest new “watering holes”. The Grist Craft Kitchen & Brewery is a flavour-first eatery and brewery lovingly built by a local Niagara-on-the-Lake family who fell for the look and feel of a heritage barn in St. David’s. Within this beautiful historical building they curated their homage to a lifetime of lusting after champagne taste on a beer budget.  

When you visit this fun, stylish kitchen and brewery, you will quickly realize the eats and drinks are anything but cheap tasting. Grab your favourite beer connoisseurs and look forward to seeing what the very best of Canadian beer, crops and culinary ingenuity have to offer at The Grist. 

Find out more about The Grist Kitchen & Brewery 

Wayne Gretzky Craft Brewing  

The Wayne Gretzky Estates, famous for its delicious reds and whites, has incorporated an exciting new facet that’s all about beer. In keeping with this winery’s preoccupation with good taste, they have extended Wayne Gretzky’s dedication to taking what is loved and familiar and putting a unique twist on it.  

Wayne Gretzky Craft Brewing pushes the boundaries of ales, IPAs and premium lagers. Whether you want to sip and savour the flavours onsite or you are excited about taking a great selection to go, if you can appreciate great beer as much as Canadians love hockey, you won’t want to miss out.  

Learn more about Wayne Gretzky Craft Brewing  

Cideries in Niagara-on-the-Lake  

The region of Niagara is a beautiful haven for outstanding produce – and that includes the wonderful apples, pears and fruit required to make some of the best cider in Ontario. For cider lovers, a visit to the region of Niagara is a must. Niagara-on-the-Lake lends itself to creating refreshing and unique varieties of cider that you won’t find elsewhere. Spend a weekend sipping and sampling at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s very best cideries and cider houses.  

Small Talk Vineyards – Shiny Apple Cider

This 78-acre vineyard has been brewing great wines since 1990. But, in 2014 as part of the company’s new direction, they began releasing Shiny Apple Cider. You can visit Small Talk Vineyards for a tour and tasting of their wines, ciders or both. You’ll enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the chance to try a tangy, well-flavoured cider that will make the perfect addition to your summer cooler.

Find out more about Shiny Apple Cider at Small Talk Vineyards

Southbrook Organic Vineyards

Southbrook is a truly unique winery and cidery that combines a powerful sustainable ethos with quality hand-harvested ingredients. With organic ciders experiencing a huge increase in uptake around the world, Southbrook is an exciting new addition to our nearby cideries. The passionate people behind the Southbrook vision are not only master growers and experts of taste, but they also demonstrate an incredible reverence for the natural richness inherent in Niagara’s soil.

Taste 100 percent vegan, sulfate-free ciders that are reflections of our region’s bounty in its truest form. Learn about Southbrook’s prioritization of biodynamics and green initiatives, and the ways they translate into refined, feel-good flavours. Cheers to protecting and uplifting our environment with elegant taste and natural fermentation.

SunnyBrook Farm – Ironwood Cider House 

This winery specializes in fruit-based beverages, which include wines and hard ciders. At  SunnyBrook, the fruit comes first because this winery truly lives its dedication to showcasing Niagara’s natural gifts. You won’t find just grape-based glasses here – you’ll get to explore a variety of different fruit flavours that have been transformed by a commitment to excellence, innovation and craftsmanship. 

Find out more about Ironwood Hard Cider at SunnyBrook Farm

Craft Brewery and Cidery Tours in Niagara

Just like Niagara’s famed wineries, many of the local Niagara breweries and cideries offer exciting and informative tours of their facilities and production centres while also offering a sampling of their outstanding beers and ciders. Whether you’re looking to add some excitement to a Niagara-on-the-Lake bachelorette or bachelor party, a romantic weekend away for two or just looking to explore Niagara’s great beverage producers, be sure to get in touch with Niagara’s local breweries and cider houses to learn about their available tours. That way you can get a first-hand look (and taste) at Niagara’s bustling brewery scene.  

Learn, taste and relax in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Doing something a bit different every now and then helps keep you young. Veer off the Niagara wine path for an exploration of the region’s beers and ciders, so you can expand your palette and your knowledge of a broad array of award-winning beverages. Book a brewery-inspired getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake  and enjoy a fun learning experience that takes you off the beaten track.